What is Social Media Detox?
Unless you have been living under a rock (JK), Social media or digital detox means abstaining from the use and consumption of social media for 30 days or less. It can be more than 30 days as well. Social media has become an indispensable part of our lives. We spend an average of 2 hours a day on it and it is important to break this loop with a detox. Even a short break from social media can be beneficial for you.
Reasons You need a Social Media Detox
Believe it or not, social media addiction is actually a thing. When you use it, your brain releases a ‘feel-good chemical’ aka dopamine, which makes it addictive. The first step towards solving a problem is accepting you have one. Here’s why you should opt for a social media detox right away:
- Your Mental Health is getting negatively affected
Social media has a major impact on your mental health. There is a constant comparison with other people’s lives, which causes a feeling of disappointment in many. This may cause anxiety and depression that can be harmful in the long run. It stresses you out and affects the quality of your sleep.
2. Fear Of Missing Out
Fear of Missing Out or FOMO, as we millennials call it, is another product of social media. It is a platform where we post every time we go out or try something new. Whenever someone posts about their adventures, you may realize your life is just plain bland and boring. You might even end up saying yes to the social events to avoid this feeling. Also, if you keep checking your devices with a fear to not miss something out and regret it later.
3. You are procrastinating more than usual
It’s human nature to procrastinate from time to time. But social media has let this ‘fun procrastination’ get out of hand. You cannot stop scrolling and checking out recommendations even when you know you have plenty of work/assignments to do. It’s like you cannot control it.
4. It’s taking too much of your time
Do you have trouble concentrating and keep checking your phone every other minute? Do you feel that you might miss something if you don’t use it? Are you the first one to check out people’s stories the second they upload them? If yes, then you are in a dire need of a social media cleanse. Social media may take a major part of your day and before you know it, it’s time to sleep only to indulge in the same cycle over again the next day.
5. You’re losing your creativity
Social media may reduce your creative abilities. The things that gave you joy earlier won’t matter anymore. You might have a hard time unleashing your own creativity after a long break. We know creators on social media are quite creative, but you need to sit back and take time to think of your original ideas to stand out from the crowd. Social media cleanse will help you focus and concentrate better.
6. You rarely go out
While some people like to go out to avoid FOMO, many like to stay at home content with never-ending scrolling. You don’t like to put your phone down and use it even if you are outside with friends and family. You may find it hard to make a real face to face conversation. A social media detox will help you connect with the real world and make genuine connections.
7. You are consuming toxic content How To Detox from Social Media
Social media is brimming with toxicity and negativity. It is becoming a source of rumors and fake news that is corrupting our minds. This content may incite negative emotions and lead you to form wrong opinions in many cases. You need to stay away from social media to escape such content and filter out the pages/people you follow and connect with.
If you relate with any of the aforementioned reasons, here’s what you can do stop before it’s too late:
(Image source: HerInsight)
1. Log out and install social media applications.
2. Ask someone to change your passwords.
3. Install screen time apps that automatically shut your social media applications after a certain time.
4. Don’t take your phone in the bedroom.
5. Indulge in a creative activity like painting, craft, going on a short trip.
To sum it up, you need to make your own detox rules and set boundaries yourself. It will help you declutter your mind and live a stress-free life. A little bit of patience and self-control can do wonders for you.
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Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.